Individual propulsion



Sept. 22, 196 4 J. K. HULYBERTI INDIVIDUAL PROPULSION .5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 19, 1963 INVENTOR. JOHN K. HULBERT S p 22, 1964 .1. K. HULBERT INDIVIDUAL PROPULSION 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 19, 1965 HJIH INVENTOR. JOHN K. HULBERT BY 60:, MV-QAM ATTORNEYS Sept. 22, 1964 J. K. HULBERT INDIVIDUAL. PROPULSION Filed Sept. 19, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 12 INVENTOR.

\ P JOHN 4K. HULBERT BY H I @M,M. W

ATTOPNE Y6 Sept. 22, 1964 J. K. HULBERT INDIVIDUAL PROPULSION 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 19, 1965 m T m m JOHN K. HULBERT BY @zw,

ATTORNEYS Sept. 22, 1964 v J. K. HULBERT 3,149,799

- INDIVIDUAL PROPULSION Filed Sept. 19., 1965 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

JOHN K. HULBERT A TTORNEYS United States Patent 3,149,799 ENDIVEDUAL PRQPULSEON John K. Hulbert, Grand Island, N.Y., assignor to Bail Aerospace Corpqration, Wheatfield, NY.

Filed Sept. 19, 1963, See. No. 316,169 r 6 Claims. (Cl. 244-4) This invention relates generally to means for propelling an individual and pertains more particularly'to improvements in propulsion units of this type such as are disclosed in copending application Serial No. 35,315 filed June 10, 1960, now Patent No. 3,021,095. This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 133,920 filed August 25, 1961, now abandoned.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a device adapted to be harness-attached to the individual and incorporating a hydrogen peroxide-catalyst bed gas generating system operating in conjunction with and for the express purpose of driving a bladed rotor ,or fan to render the device useful for propelling the individual in partially buoyant fluids such as air or water.

The device according to the aforesaid patent utilizes a gas generating system in conjunction with a dirigible exhaust gas assembly having nozzle devices attached thereto for selectively directing the exhaust flow of the generated gas as the assembly is'movedkinesthetically. Specifically, the present invention envisages the improvement over such a system wherein the exhausted 'gas is utilized primarily for converting its energy into rotary motion for driving a bladed or fan device whereby the energy of the high expansion ratio exhaust gas is converted into a slower downw'ash of greater mass flow to obtain equal lift at a lower fuel flow rate. In this fashion, the present invention will effect a manifold increase in flight duration as compared to the device of the aforesaid patent.

It is therefore of primary concern in connection with the present invention to provide a propulsion device of the character described which is of increased efficiency so that for a given quantity ,of fuel, the potential of flight duration is measurably increased.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved device of the character aforesaid in which the rotor means consist of a pair of fan members carried at the ends of a hot gas manifold and which rotor means are rigidly attached thereto, the manifold and rotor means being so carried by the individual as .to be movable kinesthetically and wherein the only means provided for selectively directing the fluid flow other than by the kinesthetic relationship is one in which the how from the two rotor means are oppositely directed infore and aft directions so as to enable control about the longitudinal axis.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the description hereinbelow and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a complete and operative device constructed in accordance with the present invention as applied to an individual;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational View of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the assemblage shown in FIG. 1;

Patented Sept. 22, 1964- FIG. 4 is a side elevational view from the side opposite that shown in FIG. 3; i

FIG. 5 is a partial section taken through the catalyst bed device; i

' FIG. 6 is a somewhat schematic view illustrating the manner in which orientation about the longitudinal axis is achieved; r

' FIG. 7 is a vertical section taken through the rotor means according to the modification of FIG/2 illustrating details of the internal constructionithereof in the mannet of rotating the blade mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken through one of the blades of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the rotor means used in conjunction with the device'as shown in FIG. 1; V i

FIG. 10 is a vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 10-10 in FIG. 9 illustrating the shape of the deflector means used in this form of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a vertical section taken through one of the blades as designated by the section line 11ll1 in FIG 9; and r w FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane of section line 1212 in FIG. ,9 illustrating the exhaust passages for the hollow blades.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, the device as shown therein incorporates many of the principles of the aforesaid Patent 3,021,095 and will be seen to include a harness 10 which is adapted to be detachably secured to the users body and which includes an upstanding neck piece 12 which articulately mounts the gas generating and educting means or hot gas generating and distributing system 11 by means of a ball joint as indicated at 14. Also'mounted on the harness 19 are a pair of fuel tanks 16 and 18 which contain hydrogen peroxide and intermediate these two containers is a nitrogen bottle 28 which is adapted to pressurize bottles 16 and 18 and thus distribute the liquid fuel within the system.

The pressurizing gas container 24 is provided at its lower end with a fitting 22 having a line 24 extending to a shutoff valve device 26 and the nitrogen gas under pressure passes therefrom, through line 28 to a pressure regulating device 39. From the regulator 3f), the nitrogen gas under reduced pressure passes through line 32 to a vent valve device M- having a safety vent 36 adapted to pass the nitrogen gas harmlessly to atmosphere in event of failure of the system and particularly of the regulator 30 should the nitrogen gas be presented at too great a pressure at the vent valve 34-. The vent valve 34 is connected through a line 3 8 to a manifold block 'fltl which has a pair of branch lines 2 and 44 issuing therefrom to the respective fuel containers 16 and 18, substantially as is shown.

The two fuel tanks 16 and 18 are provided at their lower ends with fittings 46 and 48 connected commonly to a distributing line 50 coupled to the supply line 52 which extends therefrom to a throttle valve device 54. Under the control of the operator, at the throttle valve 54, the liquid fuel passes therefrom through line 56 to a catalyst bed assembly indicated generally by the reference character 58 from which issue the two manifold branches 6t) and 62 of the hot gas generating and distributing system 11. For the purpose of filling the tanks 16 and 18, an on and off filling valve 64 is provided, having a nipple 66 through which liquid fuel may be distributed to the tanks 16 and 18.

The catalyst bed 58 is shown in detail in FIG. 5, although it will be understood that such mechanism per se forms no part of the present invention. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the catalyst bed includes a housing 68 having at its lower end a pair of generally oppositely directed discharge portions 7% and 72 which provide connection to the respective manifold branches 6i) and 62. The housing also includes a top plate portion '74 having a connection nipple 76 to which the fuel tank 56 is connected and the passage 78 directs the fuel into the interior of the casing or housing 68. Within the housing 68 are a pair of vertically spaced plates 8@ and 82, perforated as shown and which sandwich therebetween the catalyst bed 84 which is perforate or formanious to permit the liquid fuel to flow therethrough and in the process to generate the hot gas as is well known in connection with hydrogen peroxide gas generating systems.

The harness is directly attached to the users body, as by a suitable abdominal strap or straps. The fuel tanks 16 and 18, the pressurizing tank 20, and the associated valving and the like are secured rigidly to the harness, as by the bands or mounting straps 85 and 557. The assembly ill, on the other hand, is connected only at the ball joint 14 to the harness llll. To this end, it will be noted (FIGS. 1 and 2) that the manifold branches 60 and 62 are interconnected by the stay 94, the ball joint 14 being mounted on the neck piece 12 and being articularly connected to the stay 94. It will be realized that very little movement need be accommodated by the joint 14 since the means 116 and 11S themselves require very little motion for control purposes. However, the assembly 11 is also attached to the user by means of the shoulder loops 36 and 88, see particularly FEGS. 3 and 4, which are connected to their respective manifold branches 6% and 62 by means of gusset members such as are indicated by reference characters 90 and 92, and a rigidifying stay 94, see particularly FIG. 2, rigidly interconnects the manifold branches 66D and 62.

It will be appreciated that suitable heat insulating means is to be associated with the parts of the hot gas generating system for protecting the user, such insulating means being such as indicated by reference characters 1634 and 1% in connection with the manifold branches dill and 62 and as is indicated by reference characters 163 and ill in connection with the shoulder loops 86 and 88, see particularly FIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring specifically to FIG. 2, the two manifold branches 6%) and 62 are provided with vertically downturned end portions 112 and 114 which are connected to the inlet elbows 95 and 97 at their lower extremities. The rotor devices used in the system of FIG. 2 are indicated generally by reference characters lid and 118 and it is to be appreciated that the means 11h: and 1.18 are of substantially identical construction and constitute fan or rotor means to effect the propulsion and lifting forces for the device. One of these rotor devices is shown in FIG. 7 in detail and will be seen to consist of a generally cylindrical shroud or casing 12d? which is provided with a plurality of radially inwardly directed web members 122 which support the housing member 124 which forms the outer casing of a turbine assembly housed therewithin. One of these web members is hollow and opens through the casing 126 to its associated inlet elbow 97 and also opens into the housing 124 for communication with the turbine.

The rotor assembly is indicated generally by the reference character 134 and will be seen to include a hub member 136 rigidly affixed to the upper end of the turbine shaft 138 and which hub 136 is connected by means of suitable radial web members 14th to a cylindrical shroud 142 which shroud mounts the plurality of blades 144 thereon. Preferably, each of the blades is of hollow configuration, of generally aerodynamic cross sectional shape as is indicated in FIG. 8 and the rotor assembly is adapted to be rotated by the turbine device associated with the shaft 138. The shroud 142 includes a rounded nose piece 126 surrounded by the removable upper fairing rim 13h for the outer housing 120.

The housing member 124- which, as aforesaid, constitutes the outer casing for the turbine assembly, houses therewith a tubular inner casing 146 which is disposed concentrically therewith and which is connected to the housing 124 by a plurality of fixed vanes 14% extending therebetween and which vanes are arranged so as to properly angularly direct the flow of hot gas flowing downwardly from the inlet elbow or plenum chamber 97 into the space between the members 124 and 146, substantially as is indicated by the arrows in FIG. 7. Additional mounting arms 149 may be provided between members 124 and 14-6. The lower extremity of the housing 124 is smoothly tapered as indicated by reference character 150 and is provided with an inner wall portion 152 of the configuration shown so as to properly direct the hot exhaust gases through the nozzzle passage 154 to impinge upon the turbine blades 15% which are rigidly affixed to the lower end of the turbine shaft 138. The fixed housing or casing for the turbine further includes a sleeve assembly 158 preferably spaced concentrically within the member 146 for heat insulation purposes and this sleeve assembly 158 carries a pair of suitable bearing members 169 and 162 for supporting and locating the turbine shaft 138.

The user may effect fore and aft as well as lateral movements by kinesthetically articulating the hot gas generating and distributing system 11 about the ball joint 14 whereas up and down movements are conveniently controlled by varying the fuel fiow. In this manner, the user may control the direction in which he wishes to progress, save for rotation about his own vertical axis. For this latter purpose, provision is made for directing the air flow forwardly in relation to one rotor means while directing the how rearwardly with relation to the other rotor means. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, this is accomplished by means of a shroud ring indicated generally by the reference character 160, although control is achieved by similar control members in the case of FIG. 2 as well as FIG. 1. This shroud or deflector ring is in the form of a cylindrical annulus 162 which is disposed at the lower end of the casing 120, being provided with diametrically opposed, upstanding ears 164 and 166 pivotally attached to the housing 120 by pivot members 168 and 170 so that the deflector means in each case is movable in the fashion illustrated in FIG. 6, for example. The ear 164 is rigidly affixed to its pivot shaft 168 and a crank member 1722 is fixed to the outer end of this shaft 168 and is connected to a Bowden Wire control element such as those indicated by reference characters 174 and 176, see particularly FIG. 4. These two Bowden wires 174 and 176 are coupled as at 178 and are actuated by a common Bowden wire member 139 which extends from coupling 178 to the hand grip member control element 132, see particularly FIG. 3. The hand grip 132 is rotatably mounted on an extension 134 of the shoulder loop 86, substantially as is shown, and includes an upstanding ear portion 136 to which the movable element of the Bowden wire 180 is connected. As the hand grip 182 is rotated as illustrated by the arrow in FIG. 3, the ear 186 will correspondingly move the movable element of the Bowden wire 184). The Bowden wire connection is such that one of the rings 169 is moved in one diretion and the other is moved to the opposite direction. This relationship, shown more clearly in FIG. 6, is such as to efifect rotation about the longitudinal axis as indicated by the arrow 18%.

The rotor means used in FIG. 1 is shown in FIGS. 9-12 of the drawings. In this particular instance, the rotor means 93 includes a generally cylindrical casing 192 having a detachable upper lip assembly 124, the casing 192 being provided with the webs 196 securing the cylindrical housing member 198 to the casing. The housing member 198 mounts suitable bearings 200 and 202 which rotatably support the shaft 204 which mounts, adjacent its upper end, the hollow hub 206 of the rotor assembly 208. The upper extremity of the shaft, as indicated by reference character 210, is rigidly alfixed to the lower extremity 212 of the hot gas discharge tube 60 or 62 and it will be seen that the shaft 2.0.4 is hollow as at 214 to lead the exhaust gas into the interior of the hub 206 as indicated by the arrow 216 in FIG. 9. The blades 218 extend rigidly in radial direction from the hub 206 and each is hollow, communicating with the interior of the hub 206. Adjacent the outer end of each of the blades is an opening as indicated by reference character 220 and is shown more clearly in FIG. 12 of the drawings. In this fashion, the hot gas discharged from the tips of the blades causes rotation of the rotor assembly 208 and consequent displacement of ambient fluid downwardly through the casing 192. For deflecting the air stream for purposes as explained hereinabove with relation to FIG. 6 of the drawings, a pivot shaft 222 is rotatably mounted in diametrically opposed boss portions 224 and 226 at the lower extremity of the casing 192, such shaft carrying fixedly thereon suitable air foil section (see FIG. 10) deflector vane members 228 for deflecting the air stream as will be obvious. The shaft 222 is provided with a crank portion 238 connected to the Bowden wire assemblage similar to that previously described.

The only other control on the assemblage, other than the device for effecting orientation as shown in FIG. 6, is a throttle device which is mounted on the extension 234 of the right-hand shoulder loop 88, see particularly FIGS. 1 and 4. Such extension is provided with a suitable hand grip portion 236 and in association therewith a throttle lever 238 pivotally mounted as at 240 and connected to a suitable Bowden wire element 242 to extend rearwardly therefrom to the throttle valve lever 244.

In actual operation, control is largely effected kinesthetically. By controlling the throttle valve 54, th operator can control the speed of the rotor means and consequently the downwash of air effected thereby and with sufficient throttle opening a vertical component of lift sufficient to elevate or leviate the user will be effected. At the same time by kinesthetically inclining the rotor means rearwardly, forwardly or laterally, desired directions of motion can be achieved as a result of corresponding deflections of the means 116 and 118. That is to say, direction of the rotor means 116 and 118 can be nicely controlled in desired directions by kinesthetic movement of the hot gas generating and distributing system.

When the device is not being operated, the harness 14) transmits the weight of the assemblage directly to the users hips whereat the imposed load is most comfortably and efficiently borne. When the device is operated, however, the user will be suspended by the shoulder loops 86 and 88 and, more especially, by the armpit portions thereof. At the same time, it will be appreciated that the load is removed from the users hips since the user, when elevated, is actually hanging from the shoulder loops 86 and 88. While thus suspended, the user may move his shoulders to pivot the hot gas generating and distributing system relative to his body and harness 10 about the pivot or ball joint 14 and, particularly as aided by manual forces causing movement of the hot gas generating and distributing system which may be effected through the hand grips 236 on shoulder loop extensions 234, movement of the distributing system in desired directions, relative to the harness 10, may be readily effected.

It will be understood that the rotor means in each case will be counterrotating so as to nullify torque reactions thereof. Also, it will be understood that the device in either case may be operated in any ambient atmosphere, gaseous or liquid, the principal objection of the invention being to achieve a more etficient utilization of fuel by obtaining a large mass rate of flow of the ambient fluid by means of the rotor blades as opposed to the high velocity of hot gas discharge obtained without the use of the rotor means. i

It is to be understood that certain changes and modifications as illustrated and described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims. V i

I claim:

1. A propulsion assembly comprising a harness adapted to be attached to a users torso,

fuel supply means carried by said harness,

gas generating and educting means pivotally attached to said harness for kinesthetic control thereof by the user,

said gas generating and educting means including a pair of spaced, generally parallel gas discharge conduits having rotor means associated therewith,

each rotor means including a rotatably bladed member driven by generated gas for converting the high expansion ratio thereof into a slower downwash of ambient fluid at substantial mass flow,

and means for deflecting the downwash from one rotor means in a forward direction while directing the downwash from the other rotor means in a rearward direction.

2. A propulsion assembly comprising a torso harness having a fuel supply carried thereby,

gas discharge means pivotally carried by said harness,

a pair of spaced, downwardly directed rotor means connected to said gas discharge means for converting I the high expansion ratio of the generated gas into a slow downwash of gas and ambient fluid.

and means for deflecting the downwash from one rotor means in a forward direction while directing the downwash from the other rotor means in a rearward direction.

3. In an individual propulsion unit,

a body-engaging harness including a neckpiece,

gas conducting means pivotally connected to said neckpiece,

said conducting means including a pair of spaced, downwardly directed conduits rigidly interconnected and provided with shoulder-engaging loops,

and a fan fixed to the lower end of each conduit whereby each such fan is driven by gas educted through a respective conduit.

4. In an individual propulsion unit,

a body-engaging harness including a neckpiece,

gas conducting means pivotally connected to said neckpiece,

said conducting means including a pair of spaced, downwardly directed conduits rigidly interconnected and provided with shoulder-engaging loops.

a fan fixed to the lower end of each conduit whereby each such fan is driven by gas educted through a respective conduit, and each such fan including a generally cylindrical housing having a rotor mounted therewithin, blades fixed to said rotor, and said blades being hollow and provided with discharge openings adjacent their tips for directing gas therefrom.

5. In an individual propulsion unit,

a body-engaging harness including a neckpiece,

gas conducting means pivotally connected to said neck piece,

said conducting means including a pair of spaced, downwardly directed conduits rigidly interconnected and provided with shoulder-engaging loops,

a fan fixed to the lower end of each conduit whereby each such fan is driven by gas educted through a respective conduit,

and each fan including a generally cylindrical housing having a rotor mounted therewithin, blades fixed to 7 said rotor, a turbine connected to said rotor and driven by gas educted through an associated conduit.

6. In an individual propulsion unit,

a body-engaging harness including a neckpiece,

gas conducting means pivotally connected to said necpiece,

said conductng means including a pair of spaced, downwardly directed conduits rigidly interconnected and provided with shoulder-engaging loops,

a fan fixed to the lower end of each conduit whereby each such fan is driven by gas educted through a respective conduit,

and means for selectively deflecting the downwash from 8 one fan in a forward direction while deflecting the downwash of the other fan in a rearward direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,586,595 Barringer June 1, 1926 3,021,095 Moore Feb. 13, 1962 3,023,980 Martin et a1 Mar. 6, 1962 OTHER REFERENCES Websters New Collegiate Dictionary, published by G. and C. Merriam Co., 1961 ed. (pp. 50 and 455 relied on). 

1. A PROPULSION ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A HARNESS ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO A USER''S TORSO, FUEL SUPPLY MEANS CARRIED BY SAID HARNESS, GAS GENERATING AND EDUCTING MEANS PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO SAID HARNESS FOR KINESTHETIC CONTROL THEREOF BY THE USER, SAID GAS GENERATING AND EDUCTING MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED, GENERALLY PARALLEL GAS DISCHARGE CONDUITS HAVING ROTOR MEANS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, EACH ROTOR MEANS INCLUDING A ROTATABLY BLADED MEMBER DRIVEN BY GENERATED GAS FOR CONVERTING THE HIGH EXPANSION RATION THEREOF INTO A SLOWER DOWNWASH OF AMBIENT FLUID AT SUBSTANTIAL MASS FLOW, AND MEANS FOR DEFLECTING THE DOWNWASH FROM ONE ROTOR MEANS IN A FORWARD DIRECTION WHILE DIRECTING THE 